Yongsan ramen restaurant with chilled giant prawn ramen: Menya Seoul

I came to watch Odyssey in Yongsan IMAX at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall. Since I was here, I wanted lunch before going in, but I needed something quick, so I picked ramen. I was especially curious about Menya Seoul's giant prawn chilled ramen, so that decided it!

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch information

Food-court storefront

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch is in the restaurant area on the seventh floor inside I'Park Mall. I'Park Mall is huge, so I always get confused about where things are, but it is easiest to set CGV as your destination and come up through CGV.

Menya Seoul is set up inside the I'Park Mall food court, so there are bar-style tables around the shop. You can also take your food to the shared seating in the food court.

Each seat at the bar table has rayu (chili oil) and lemon-kelp vinegar ready to go. Both are provided, so add as much as you like. The rayu goes in mazesoba (sauce-mixed noodles) or spicy/mala ramen, while the lemon-kelp vinegar goes in mazesoba and chilled ramen to add umami.

After you finish, there is a tray-return station opposite the Menya Seoul counter, so just leave your bowl there.

Ramen and mazesoba menu

There is a wide range of menu items: not only ramen, but also mazesoba and rice bowls. There are also set meals pairing ramen with sides—gyoza (pan-fried dumplings), karaage (Japanese fried chicken), or a chicken rice bowl—if you want a fuller meal. Broth comes in mild, spicy, and mala versions; the spicy one is milder than Shin Ramyun, while the mala one is spicier than Shin Ramyun.

Look closely at the menu and you will see it divided into a dongpo pork line and a jambon line. It seems the dongpo pork version adds dongpo pork to the standard jambon chashu.

Trying the giant prawn chilled ramen

🏷️ Order Giant prawn chilled ramen

My pick was the giant prawn chilled ramen! It is a summer-only new menu item. The summer releases were giant prawn chilled ramen and whole pork belly mazesoba, and I chose this because I wanted ramen with broth.

It comes topped with chashu, lemon, kelp, scallions, egg, and prawn. The lemon is lightly charred, giving it a hint of fire-roasted flavor. Cool chilled ramen plus the bright tang of lemon!

There are two large, thin slices of chashu, and Menya Seoul's chashu looks a little different from the usual kind we picture. Here, the chashu is jambon.

Menya Seoul's noodles are on the thin side. Maybe because it is chilled ramen, they do not get soggy and stay pleasantly chewy.

And since it was chilled ramen, I tried adding the prepared lemon-kelp vinegar. Its clear, sharp kick, almost like eating naengmyeon (Korean cold noodles), really brings the chilled ramen to life.

The characteristic sharpness of chilled ramen, thin noodles, and mild chashu work together pretty well.

Giant prawn fried shell-on

The one giant prawn that comes with it is fried whole, head and all.

Because it is fried whole, the prawn is naturally fried with its shell on, which may catch you off guard—but do not be startled.

It may feel like a lot for some people, but it is a steamed prawn fried shell-on, so the texture is crisp and the flavor is mild. It feels different from the fried prawns I had eaten before.

Chilled ramen that did not have cold broth

Honestly, I do not really understand the Japanese concept of “chilled.” I was a little surprised before when I had chilled udon and the broth was not cold, and Menya Seoul's chilled ramen did not have cold broth either.

A good place for a quick ramen meal when you are craving ramen at Yongsan I'Park Mall. It was also great for eating alone—besides me, everyone there was having a solo meal.